Author Topic: Quills... AKA papaer straws (Read 937 times)

Rickk · « **on:** March 07, 2006, 12:59:58 PM »

I'm new to this whole thing, but I saw a series of posts from people looking for a source of paper straws to make quills out of.

My kid came home from kindergarden with an arts thing that he did made out of paper straws, so I pumped the teacher for the secret source.

http://www.enasco.com/artsandcrafts/ProductDetail.do?sku=9721293

1,800 of them, 16 inches long, for 35 bucks... that is prolly a lifetime supply for most people. They are 4 mm (.16") diameter.

Their web site is a little overwhelmed... better to call the 800 number and order over the phone. Wait till tomorrow to make sure mine is on it's way, they only have 7 boxes left in stock :-) .

Rickk · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:08:57 PM »

I now have paper straws up the ying-yang--- red, blue, green, yellow. Pretty, pretty straws :-)

Rickk · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:25:17 PM »

I filled about 2 inches of straw (a yellow one if anyone cares) with 4F powder, laid it on the back steps and lit one end... it blasted off like a rocket ship... gotta try it with a whole 18 inch piece sometime.

It definitely would have been instantaneous.

GGaskill · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:31:33 PM »

Put the straw into something like it would be in a touch hole. My experience with that kind of ignition is it acts like fuse. To act like a quill, the powder needs to be on the walls only with a hole for the fire down the middle.

Rickk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 02:54:22 PM »

I'll give it a try tomorrow night and see what happens.

Articifer Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:45:00 PM »

Pour 4f onto 1/2" cello tape then split in half with razor blade . Roll and install in straw with whip out one end to fold over to light. The ignition will surprise you.

Rickk · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2006, 01:16:36 PM »

I made a 2 inch "quill" out of the paper straw. and 4f powder. I sealed the end with Elmers glue in sort of a pointy shape. I rigged up an exotic test stand (out of plastic packing tape) to simulate a vent hole and also to restrain the quill. I lit it with linstock. It did burn somewhat fuselike, but I am estimating that it took about 1/2 second ... maybe less... to burn from one end to the other.

Articifer Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2006, 03:38:59 PM »

The Cello straw won't give you the time to think about timing it. (':shock:')

Artilleryman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:34:45 PM »

You can get a faster burn time by using a coarser grade of powder also.